Bird Cams Around the World

I only saw two falcons on the building this morning when I got there a little after 4:30.

Do you know if this is posted anywhere in the forums?

"Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:19:08 -0700
From: M L <ctsnature@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Lancaster/York Counties, Rt 462 bridge, Peregrine Fledge Watch: Help Wanted

Greetings All,

The pay is purely in memories, but the help wanted is real.

This is the fledgling year of the "official" Peregrine Falcon Fledge Watch of the eyases (young falcons) at the Rt 462 bridge over the Susquehanna River. Last year, the pair of youngsters that attempted to fledge safely, ended up swimming on the river for several hours each. It was sheer luck that boaters saw and saved each bird, as one of them was well down-river from the nest site, splashing weakly in the water and was exhausted when finally saved. (We dubbed this bird, aptly, "Splash.") This year, we hope to be better prepared for the event, and are asking anyone available to spend a few enjoyable hours on the river to monitor and save any plunged peregrines.

The payout can be spectacular. Already, we've seen both adults hunt and bring food to the nest, and some near altercations with innocent intruders that happened to be flying nearby. You may be lucky enough to witness one of the adults catch prey as happened recently when the female caught a bird over kayakers' heads. The eyases are currently keeping close to the inside downstream arch, but can be seen peering over the edge waiting for dinner. When dinner arrives, it's a scream-fest. I really don't know why peregrine parents haven't gone deaf from raising a family....

In a short time, the young will be walking the arches and exercising their wings to strengthen them. Last year, this happened frequently on the north side of the bridge (the upstream side), likely because the adults favored bare trees near the old piers on which to perch, and the eyases liked to keep an eye on the adults (all the better to scream for dinner).

ALL HANDS ON DECK! This year, Marty Cox of Chiques Rock Outfitters, 717-475-6196 has graciously lowered the hourly rental fee of a kayak to a really, really, really low price to help the Peregrine Fledge Watch be successful. Last year, Marty rescued the second bird after a local boater told him there was a bird in the water that couldn't fly. Marty rescued the young male (which we've playfully dubbed "Duncan"). The Outfitters is adjacent to the parking area of the Riverfront Park in Columbia Borough, Lancaster County. Marty said he would offer the LOW price to anyone who mentions the magic words, Peregrine Fledge Watch. The deal will endure when he has kayaks available (call for reservation) and for the period of July 25 to about August 6th, or until the birds have successfully managed to fly without ending up in the water, needing to be rescued. Riverfront Park is at the end of Walnut Street where it crosses over N. Front
Street, and the railroad tracks.

There are three local boat ramps in this area of the river. One at Columbia, and two in Wrights ville, one north of the Rt 462 bridge at the John Wright Restaurant--suitable only for canoe or kayak launch (shallow), and one below the bridge at a regular boat launch area. The area south of the bridge (downstream) is suitable for small motorized boats, but north is too shallow. North of the bridge is relatively calm and shallow. As a precaution to protect the breeding pair, if you can spend time on the river, please avoid "parking" or climbing out of your watercraft at any of the old piers where you see dead (bare-limbed) trees. And don't forget to take water to drink and snacks...

The expected fledge area is about mid-river, near the hand-painted, large white "Smiley Face" someone graffitied on the south-side of a pier. Just listen for the prey squabbles between the young ones.

So, if you can help, what should you do if a peregrine needs to be rescued from the river?
First, save the bird. If you can, put it in a safe, darkened place if it appears to be injured. Call the local PGC Officer, John Veylupek at (610) 926-3136 x 0 (avoids the menus). There are other contact numbers and information posted on flyers at the boat launches mentioned above.

Please email me if you have questions.

Thanks

Meredith Lombard"

Wow, Kim, thanks for the info on the Columbia nest. We didn't hear anything about this nest this year, so we weren't even sure the falcons nested there this year, so this is great news! We had heard about & read about last year's 2 fledglings that ended up in the water & were saved by boaters. Reenie, Jane & Sue made a trip to see the nest last year, but hadn't heard anything this year, at least the last I heard about it from them. How great that Marty is helping out with good deals on his kayaks to help with fledge watch! Way to go, Marty!

Fantastic News Kim. I remember Jane, Sue and Reenie going there last year. They posted about it on this Forum. They told all about the rescues. Way to go Kim in your ability to find that article. Wait till Jane, Sue, and Reenie read this............

(No Gorge Please) I'm sorry!

Kim, thanks for your early morning report. And as to the Columbia/Wrightsville falcons, I hadn't seen anything about a confirmed nesting this year, but have been checking. Unfortunately I'm going to be away from July 26 until August 3, so those fledge watch dates of July 25 to August 6 are not going to fit into my schedule.

Id even consider a road trip but i am not sure where it is and whether there is a good photo position to get images of the eyases and parents. I get lost trying to find my way out of a cul de sac

George, if the falcons are nesting at the same place as last year on the Columbia/Wrightsville bridge, the only way you could get pictures would be from a boat. Their nest place last year was about half way across the bridge. It is a lovely setting, though. We could see the adult falcons from shore last year perched on snags on the remains of a small spit of land where there is an old bridge support. We also saw Bald Eagles and Ospreys in that area.

Gee, thanks Reenie, Jane and Nancy for the info. Remember the laughs we had with stories about you all in boats on the River? Hope they can get them to safe fledging. I'm asking this here too. Wonder why they are so late in the season with being in the nearby area of HBG? I know I sound dumb asking that , but I'd like to have an answer.

So are there TWO females. This pair had a late nesting last year, too. Seems like the first attempt failed. Maybe that happened again this year.

Thanks so much Nancy for the explanation on late nests. I never thought about how things can get messed up with all kinds of scenarios. Learned a lot today. Interesting about the Miss. River Falcon's.

Glad you're enjoying it, Reenie! The female is a new mom & had trouble figuring out the feeding thing at first, but now she's doing like Red & carrying the prey from one chick to another making sure they all get fed!

Here is a link you can paste into WMP & get a bigger picture: http://falcon.grenergy.com

I saw three birds on the building this morning on my way to work! Two kids and an adult? :)

Thanks for that link Nancy! :)

Great link Nancy and good news from you today Kim. Both Boy's still around. Nice!!